Learning By Doing

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All of our courses have laboratory sections taught by the professors. Classes are small, so each student receives hands-on experience with modern research equipment. For classes with a field component, Stetson's central location offers many opportunities for study in such places as the Ocala National Forest, Canaveral National Seashore, Blue Springs State Park, and the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge.

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One of the many benefits of Stetson's small size is that each student performs a senior research project with a faculty member before graduation. Students begin preparing for the project during their sophomore year by taking Biostatistical Methods I and II. These courses train students to design experiments, to collect and analyze data, and to write an effective report. As juniors, students choose research topics and faculty mentors and write a formal research proposal. Then, as seniors, students carry out an original research project that has been tailored to their personal interests. Although most projects are completed in a faculty mentor's laboratory, some students complete projects off campus in hospitals, laboratories, doctor's offices, etc.

Students are encouraged to begin their research over the summer between their junior and senior years, particularly as part of Stetson's Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (SURE), which provides funding for equipment, room and board, and travel. All Biology majors are encouraged to present the results of their research at our Undergraduate Research and Creative Arts Symposium (SURCAS) and at other scientific forums, such as state and national conferences.

 

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Titles of some of the 2011 student research projects:


Neurobiological studies

  • Stimulation of the central nucleus of the amygdala affects taste reactivity behaviors
  • The role of the lateral hypothalamus in taste reactivity behaviors in conscious rats
  • Taste reactivity behaviors and the number of fos-like immunoreactive neurons in the gustatory cortex in conscious rats

 

Microbiological studies

  • The effect of flavonoids (quercetin and (+) catechins) on bacteriophage M13 infectivity of E. coli


Medical/dental/veterinary studies

  • Therelationship between jaw width and gender in determining the angulation of third molar impaction
  • The prevalence of Plasmodium spp. and Haemoproteus spp. infection and its effect on the packed cell volume of Florida raptors


Terrestrial ecological studies

  • Avian species richness and abundance shows increase in restored wetland sites of Emeralda Conservation Marsh Area

  • Ecotypic variation in stomatal characteristics of Eriophorum vaginatum
  • Habitat selection and range differences amongst male and female box turtles, Terrapene carolina bauri

 

Aquatic studies

  • The effect of diatom consumption on copepod reproduction in high- and low-nutrient lakes
  • Diet analysis of Pterygoplychthys disjunctivus in Volusia Blue Spring
  • The effect of diet temperature on growth and development of the springsnail Floridobia floridana
  • Does gender affect age and growth patterns in armored catfish (Pterygoplichthys disjunctivus)?

 

Molecular Studies

  • Determination of seed paternity to evaluate reproductive fitness in Passiflora incarnata using DNA microsatellites

 

Stetson molecular biology


 

 

Student Presentations at Local and National Meetings

Student Publications

 


Photos by Kirsten Work and Terry Grieb